Are you looking to get away from everything to enjoy a string of islands surrounded by emerald water so clear you can see conch tracks on the sand 10' below the surface? Islands so close together that you spend very little time under way and most of time enjoying incredible anchorages, beaches and sandbars... Then a week in the Exumas is what you are looking for!

Located in the central Bahamas, the Exumas include hundreds of islands and cays just 30 miles from Nassau and its international airport with numerous daily flights from the East Coast. Being further south, the Exumas enjoy a warmer winter than the northermost Bahamas islands or than South Florida.Once you leave Nassau on the Exuma Bank you enter the perfect cruising grounds for private yachts, with no major airport, no cruise ships and no big developments. Our crew is very familiar and experienced with the Exumas and will take you not only to well known spots like Staniel Cay and the Thunderball grotto but to less known cays where you will have the most incredible beach to yourself.

Here is a sample itinerary for a week long charter in paradise! Click on the links in the text to see the corresponding picture (pictures may take a few seconds to load after you click).

Day 1: board Charmer in Nassau at Paraside Island Resort in the morning; leave the dock late morning, heading east out of Nassau Harbor then towards the Exumas. Our first stop after a 2 1/2 hour cruise will be Highborne Cay where we will either anchor in crystal clear water or dock at the Highborne Cay Marina, a short walk from a mile long pristine beach on the ocean side.

Day 2: a short half hour run will take us to Norman's Cay, once the base of operation of infamous drug smuggler Carlos Lehder. Swimming, snorkeling on the reef or the sunken DC3 aircraft and exploring the many cays, beaches and sandbars with Charmer's tender or Jetski awaits you. Cocktails will be served on a picture perfect private Island!

Day 3: Another short run to the south, and you will arrive at Warderick Wells Cay, home of the Exumas National Park headquarters. You will spend the day beach hopping, exploring the park and snorkeling. One of the many trails lead to Boo-Boo Hill and its great views of the surrounding islands.

Day 4: After Warderick Wells, another natural wonder awaits you with the Thunderball Grotto, just under an hour away at Staniel Cay. The Grotto, accessible by snorkeling, was used in a number of movies including Splash and as the name imply in the 1960s James Bond movie. Our base to explore the grotto and the surounding cays will be the renowed and laid back Staniel Cay Yacht Club but you will enjoy a casual dinner.

Day 5: A short run from Staniel Cay will take us to Big Majors Cay, home of the famous Swimming Pigs of Staniel Cay. After paying a mandatory visit to the pigs (yes, they swim towatds approaching tenders begging for scrap food) you will spend the afternoon relaxing in this popular anchorage.

Day 6: has been left open for you to pick a destination or maybe revisit your favorite spot although we recommend staying near Staniel Cay and Big Majors and enjoy some of the great snorkeling spots as well as scenic Sandy Cay with its long comma shape sandbar. Nearby Samson Cay is home to a modern marina in a protected lagoon.

Day 7: our final stop before crossing the Yellow Bank on the way back to Nassau will be Hawksbill and Shroud Cay home to even more caves, sandbars and pristine beaches. And one more Exuma Sunset!

Use the map controls to zoom in and out or move around the map. Click on the placemarks on the map to view details and pictures. Note: placemarks include pictures which may take a few seconds to load... To view this sample itinerary in more details, you can open the Google Earth file in Google Earth and access GE features like panoramio pictures.

click here to download and open Google Earth file